Liverpool-based interior designer Elaine Cunningham is to open a store at Rumford Investments' 20 Chapel Street in the city centre.

Cunningham's franchised Bo Concept store will occupy 5,000 sq ft on the ground floor. It will stock designer furniture and 'lifestyle products'. Fit-out work has started and the new store is set to open in September 2009.

Bo Concept was established in Denmark in 1952 and now has 240 stores in 45 countries.

Cunningham said: "We chose 20 Chapel Street as it is such a landmark building, fits Bo Concept's vision for a new store and is easily accessible for all our customers. There is a demand in Liverpool and across the region for furniture of this superb quality and design and I can see it quickly becoming a destination store for the city centre."

Elaine Cunningham Interiors' established Aigburth Road store will continue to trade as normal.

Alastair Newman, commercial marketing consultant for 20 Chapel Street, said: "Elaine Cunningham bringing a Bo Concept store to 20 Chapel Street and to Liverpool is a fantastic coup. This is an international brand and a first for the North West. We have interest in the remaining 1,500 sq ft retail unit where we are keen to secure another high quality retailer."